Do’s and Dont's of Summer Home Renovations

by Sam Khan, Managing Director of Renovo

With summer here, it might be a good idea to think about renovating your home while you take that long-awaited summer holiday, or, while the children are visiting their grandparents for summer. But, the whole process can seem daunting. Where to even begin?

Doing a renovation is always a good idea if you are looking to make your home more comfortable, more aligned with your aesthetic vision, or simply to increase the property value of your home as an investment. Summer is a popular time to do home renovations since many are traveling and would like to see their vision come to life in time for when they return in the autumn season. You might have your own unique idea of why you would like to renovate.

But, with the weather extremes during summer, there are a few things to look out for and think about if you are choosing to renovate your home during the season. Here are some do’s and don’ts for your home maintenance and renovation plans over the summer.

Do:

• Think about and choose renovations to your home that will increase your home’s value. Get that Pinterest board ready – it’s a great place to scope unique ideas that also add value. Your contractor will help you come up with great ideas that fit within your budget.

• Choose a look that will be timeless and in-season. You’ll want a great place to host all your guests, or a relaxing and calming space to unwind after those long days at work!

• Speaking of contractors, ensure you choose your renovation contractor and designer wisely. Where to even begin choosing a contractor? We’ll get to that later.

• Ensure you have the project manager and managing director’s direct contact details in case something may go wrong during the renovation; and in case they need to contact you immediately (especially if you are travelling overseas).

• Minimise the spread of dust – make sure you keep all your doors closed and ensure all cracks are properly sealed. Bonus points if you have your AC cleaned after the renovation is complete!

• Ensure all your supplies and materials are in stock and approvals are in place. Out of courtesy, you can also notify your neighbours that you will be doing home improvement work.

• Keep a contingency budget and realistic timelines in case of any delays. Try to build a contract with penalties for these situations.

Don’t:

• Don’t rush through the planning phase. Understandably, you’ll want to have your home improvements completed as soon as possible, but this is one of the most important aspects to the renovation phase. If your renovation is not planned properly and thoroughly, that can leave room for error and mistakes can be made which can lead to further delays.

• Landscaping projects might be best to save until the weather cools down. If it is a requirement, it may take a little longer than usual as we recommend workers do not spend time outside in the middle of the day in prime heat.

• Don’t DIY large projects yourself (unless you are qualified of course!). Doing so can lead to damages to your home, which would increase your budget substantially in hiring a contractor to come to fix it. And, you never know what you might uncover in your home, so you will want a contractor on hand so that you're prepared for worst-case scenarios.

• Leave your furniture uncovered. Don’t forget to remove or cover your furniture and items in the rooms that you are having renovated, especially if you are leaving your home during the renovation.

• Don’t choose a contractor without a recommendation or having viewed their previous work.

• Don’t choose low-quality materials to save money in the short term.

So, how about choosing that perfect contractor? Knowing who you can trust with your summer home renovation can be stressful. But, it doesn’t have to be. Especially when you know what to look out for when selecting a contractor. Here are some of our top tips to ensure you are selecting the right contractor for your home project.

1. Take note of their communication style. You will want to select someone you can communicate with effectively and consistently.

2. Ask about their availability. It is important that your contractor creates a schedule that is efficient and gets the job done in a timely manner.

3. Check their online reviews. But, don’t only look at the star ratings, also be sure to look at how the company responds to customer feedback. Do they ignore low ratings or do they try to rectify the situation?

4. Check their license and make sure that the contractor is properly insured.

5. Ensure the contractor specializes in the type of work and the area that your project requires.

Feel free to reach out to Sam with any questions you might have. They are always happy to help you obtain your dream home! hello@renovo.ae